News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-04-14
The SmuggIer.
A STORY OF vANCoUvER's ISLAND AND
PUGET SOUND.

Pretty A1lSa nac1arland, sitting all In
white upon the broad gray stone steps
of her home, with the afternoon sun
falling upon the glimmering gold of her
hair, was a lovely picture, and one
which it seemed pity should remain
unseen. Out through the porch came
a tall, gTay-haired man of middle age,
in whom Ailsa recognized her uncle
and guardian, Captain Duncan Macfar-
land, of Her Majesty's Colonial Revenue
Service. In his hand he carried a mar
inc telescope of portentous size and ap-
pearance, and his first words to his
neice We're:
'.Ailsa, lass, have been up in the
tower watching that sail you can see far
down there the south, but either my
eyes are getting bad indeed or l can't
focus the glass right, for I can't make
her out at all. But you, lass, your eyes
are young and stronghold you and tell
me what you see.
He handed the glass to Ailsa.
''Ah % she exclaimed, after a
moments intent scrutiny, but it was
difficult to define what emotion the
ejaculation expressed.
"Weel, weel!" exclaimed her uncle
when excited the Scotch always came
strongly to the surface-''speak, lass.
What is it We see p
''It's sloop, uncle, replied the girl
at last; ga large sloop, with tall top
sail and very long bowsprit." "
'And the ensign?" queried Captain
Macfarland, eagerly. Can We see that,
or does she carry any?"
''It is very small, i" answered Ailsa,
still with her eye to the glass; 81 can
not make it out exactly, but [ think, -
she continued, musingly and in a low
tone, the words seeming to be rather adj
dressed to herself than her listener, 81
think-oh, yes, it must be an American
flag"
IAN American fagI That settles it;
it must be the rascal. But now that
we've got an eye on him let him be care
full"
Now for the first time something like
alarm came into Ailsa's sweet face, and
she asked, hastily:
''Why, uncle, what is it you mean 2"
''Hist, lass, replied her uncle, lower
ing his voice and glancing mysteriOusly
around eff that craft comes near the
shore tonight, we'll put our hands upon
the worst smuggler that has vexed the
sound for many year. But say moth
ing to any one at all, else he will some
how get warming, as he has so many
times before, and then it will be all up
with us again.
Now new expression came into Ali
sa's bright blue eyes, something which
seemed akin to indignation.
''How can you be so unjust, uncle?"
she exclaimed. elbow do you know that
this is truel"
"Hoot toot, lassie," spoke the old
Scotchman, angTily. cane would think
We held the rascals among your friends,
sin We stan up for him so strongly. But
how can he be ither than the guilty
party? Does not the smuggling go on
between the coasts constantly, and is
not that witch craft of his ever afoat on
the sound, and never seemingly with
any honest business of its ownl Tell
me, how can We explain a that 2"
cit may be some American gentle
mans yacht, suggested Ailsa.
''Then why wouldn't the craft ever
come into harbOr, and in the day time,
instead of sk11king about and only edg-
ing up to the coast at night? No, no;
he's ma honest, 1 warrant, and tonight,
if we're lucky, we'll prove it. He's
slipped through our net more than once,
but don't think he will tonight.
And, with a portentous shake of the
head, Captain Macfarlane took the glass
from his niece and entered the house.
Shortly afterward he emerged again
and took the way to the stables, and q
few minutes later Ailsa saw him drive
rapidly away to Victoria.
And now pretty, blue-eyed Ailsa did
several strange things. First of all she
flew upstairs to her uncle's room, from
which she shortly afterward emerged
with a roll of brilhantly-hu bunting
in her arms. Then she entered the dark
little passage and staircase which led up
to the ''tower." A few moments after
ward, had any one been looking, they
might have noticed strangely figured
square of bunting rise slowly to
the top of the flagstaff which s1lr-
mounted the ''tower." But no one
seemed to remark the fact, not even
AiIsa herself. who, leaning out of the
round window, with her uncle's glass
again in her hand, seemed to be watch
ing once more for the little white-salled
craft still visible far down the sound. A
moment silently passed, and then, as she
saw bright spot of red shoot to the
masthead of the distant slOop, a Joyous
exclamation left her lips, and she closed
the telescope, and swiftly but carefully
drew down the flag.
Could it be that thus, from an inmate
of his own household, Duncan Mac1ar-
lanes intended prey was to receive the
warning which should save hIm and balk
the worthy captain once again! =,
Darkness had settled down over the
shores and the sea, and about the Mac
farIane cottage everything seemed sunk
in the peaceful calm of night. Inc cap
tain, indeed, was absent, and A1lsa could
readily guess upon what GRAND Inc
servants had retired to their own rooms,
and their Young mistress therefore had
the whole front of the house to herself
Perhaps she was lonesome, and II so 1t
may have been this which caused her to
prefer the mUTmur of the waves and the
companionship of the stars to the lonell-
ness of the drawing room. At all events
she hal deserted the latter for her old
position upon the steps of the porch,
where, Wrapped only in light, fleecy
shawl, for the night was warm and
pleasant, she sat alone with her thoughts.
Though the sky was clear and uncloud-
Ell there was no moon, and the sound,
as it Law before her, was but broad
waste of darkness, upon the surface OF
which il was impossible to discover any
object. Ailsa, rs she sat upon the steps,
tried to convince herself that she was